Lubricating device for machine tools



A. F. BENNETT LUBRICATING DEVICE FUR MACHINE TOOLS Feb. 20, 1940.

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LUBRICATING DEVICE FUR MACHINE TOOLS Filed Nov. 10, 1957 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2 mwN QNN

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LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed NOV. 10, 19.37 3 Sheets-Shet 3 Patented Feb. zo, 1940 2.190.851; LUnnrcA'rlNG DEVICE Fon mcrmm 'rooLs Arthur` F. Bennett, West Barrington, R. I., as-

signor to Brown. and Sharpe Manufacturing Company, 'a corporation of Rhode Island Application November 10, 1937, Serial No.

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in lubricating devices for machine tools, and more particularly to means Well adapted for lubricating certain moving parts of a milling machine of the general type having a longitudinally reciprocable work table, a transversely movable saddle support, and a vertically adjustable knee support.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved lubrication system of the non-return type which is well adapted for supplying lubricant economically and efficiently to the various moving parts mounted in the saddle support and relatively movable work table of a milling machine.

More speciilcally, :It is an object o f the invention to provide a lubricating system of this general description which is well adapted to provide intermittent lubrication under pressure to the various moving parts at intervals which will bear a definite relation to the extent and character of the machine operation to provide an adequate but not excessive supply of lubricant to the operating parts.

With these and other objects in view, as may hereinafter appear, the several features ofthe invention consist in the devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, which together with the advantages to be obtained thereby will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection .with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a detail view in front elevation of a milling machine illustrating particularly the reciprocable Work table and trans- 35 versely movable saddle support, and the lubricating devices supported thereon, only so much of the machine having been illustrated as is believed necessary to indicate the relation of the present invention thereto; Fig. 2 is a sectional view in front elevation taken through the work supporting table, and illustrating particularly portions of the table drive and certain of the connections for lubricating the parts of said drive; Fig. 3 is a plan View partly in section, taken on substan tially the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, of applicants lubricating system, the saddle support having been drawn in dot-and-dash lines to indicate the positions of the several parts of the lubricating system with relation Jthereto; Fig. 4 is a sectional view in left side elevation taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a detail view in left side elevation and partly in section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2, to illustrate certain of the driving and lubricating devices housed in the saddle support and table; Fig. 6 is a sectional View (Cl. Sil-21) in left side elevation taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 'l is a detail sectional view of the` pump taken on the line I--l of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8

is a detail sectional plan view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2.

The machine disclosed in the drawings, is a milling machine of the general type having a coll umn designated generally at I0 in Fig. 4, on which is mounted a rotary milling cutter spindle which may be of ordinary description (not shown), a longitudinally reciprocable Work table I2, a transn versely movable saddle support I4 for the table, and a vertically adjustable knee I6. The table is slidably supported on ways I8 and I9 formed on a swivel mounting I5 which forms part of the saddle support I4 which is in turn slidably motion transmitting means for eifecting either power or manual operation of each of the component parts of the work supporting assembly, including a main stem transmission mounted in the knee and branch transmissions therefrom for effecting relative movements of each of the table, saddle and knee supports. The driving connections referred to, will be `hereinafter described only so far as is believed necessary to illustrate the application thereto of applicants [improved system for lubricating'the moving parts carried by the saddle and table supports. Referring to Fig. 4, the power drive for each of the branch transmissions above referred to, is takn from a driving gear 24 and a drive shaft 26 which is rotatably supported in the knee to turn on a horizontal axis extending in a direction parallel to that of saddle support movement. `The drive for the table I2 is taken from the shaft 26 through a branch transmission which comprises a vertically extending drive shaft 28 rotatably mounted in a casing 30 formed integrally with the saddlesupport I4. A bevel gear 32 secured to the lower end of the drive shaft 28, meshes with a gear 34 slidably mounted on the shaft 26, and keyed to turn therewith. The gear 34 is externally supported in a bearing 35 formed in the vcasing 3G which is arranged to support the gear- 34 at all times in mesh with the cooperating gear 32. The vertical shaft 28 is connected through a starting, y stopping and reversing clutch mechanism to a table drive shaft 36 rotatably mounted on and supported to move axially with the table. The shaft 36 in turn drives a table screw 38 also mounted on and A.supported against axial movement with relation to the table, and arranged to mesh with a stationary nut 40 rigidly mounted on the saddle support l5. The driving connections thus briefly outlined, include a bevel driving. gear 42 on the upper end of the drive shaft 28 which is arranged to mesh with and drive in opposite directions two bevel gears 44 and 48 which are-,loosely sleeved on the table shaft 88, and are supported respectively against endwise movement therewith by means of the external bearings 48 and 41 on the saddle support. The bevel gear members 44 and 45 have formed thereon face clutch surfaces which are arranged for engagement with an intervening sleeve clutch member 48 which is keyed to rotate with the shaft against axial movementwith relation to the table i2 by means of end thrust bearings 58 and 80 which are mounted between collars on the screw shaft 36 and opposite sides oi' a stationary lug 82 formed integrally with the table i2. The drive is taken from the drive shaft 38 to the feed screw 38 by means of an internal gear 8d mounted on a. hand wheel 88 secured to the drive shaft 38, and arranged to mesh with a small pinion 88 secured to the end of the screw shaft 38.

The position of the clutch member 48 is readily controlled through connections which include a forwardly extending rock shaft 'I0 (see Figs. 1 and 4) which is provided at its rear end with an oifset pin I2 which engages in a shoe 'I4 mounted in a peripheral groove 16 in the clutch sleeve 48. At its forward end the rock shaft 10 is provided with a manually operable reversing lever 'I8 which is moved in opposite directions from the intermediate neutral position shown, for example,` in Figjl', to eect a drive of the vtable in opposite directions. In order to provide for automatically stopping the table at the desired limit in its travel ineither direction, table dogs 88 and 182 are adjustably mounted in a T-shaped slot 184 formed in the front side of the table I2 for engagement respectively with two vertically arranged stop plungers 88 and 88 which are provided at their lower ends with rack teeth (see Fig. 3) for engagement with the opposite sides of a pinion 80 on the rock shaft l0. Actuation of either of the plungers 88 or 88 by the cooperating dog will cause the shaft 18 and clutchmember 48 controlled thereby to be returned to their intermediate neutral positions.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel lubrication system is provided for supplying lubricant to the several bearing and other engaging parts of the driving mechanisms above `described, which are mounted in the saddle and in the work table carried thereon. The system employed is of the non-return type in which lubricant drawn from a source of supply, is distributed to each of the parts needing lubrication in regulated amounts which are proportioned in accordance with the requirements of each part.

A feature of applicants invention consists in the provision in a lubricating system of this general type, of means for supplying lubricant intermittently to the several parts needing lubrication, at intervals which depend upon and are determined by the extent to which these parts of the machine are operated, so that the rate at which lubricant is supplied will be at all times substantially equal to the rate of consumption.

In the preferred form of applicants lubrication system illustrated in the drawings, lubricant is drawn from a reservoir carried in the saddle support, and is forced through a distributing system adapted for supplying lubricant in properly proportioned amounts to each of the operat` ing parts by means of a pumping unit which is rendered operative to force a carefully regulated amount of lubricant into the distributing system with each actuation of the reversing lever 18 of the machine above described.

As best shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, of the drawings, a cylindrical chamber-or reservoir |08 is provided in the saddle support I5 directly beneath one of the ways I9 for the table i2, from which lubricant is supplied to the moving parts on the saddle and work supporting table. An oil filler plug |02 provides convenient'means for replenishing the supply of lubricant to the reservoir when necessary. As best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, oil is drawn from the reservoir through supply pipe |04 by means of a pump generally indicated at HI8,- which is mounted in the opposite side ofthe saddle support beneath the table way I8. Oil is forced from the pump |08 through a supply conduit |08 to a distributing head ||0 which is supported, as best shown in Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings, at the right hand end of the saddle support, and beneath the reservoir |00. A pipe line |52 connected between the distributor head ||0 and the reservoir M0 having associated therewith a drip plug I I4 provides an overflow connection for any excess oil forced into the distributor head I0 from the pump |08.

In order that oil maybe supplied in properly proportioned amounts to the above operating parts of the machine, a number of separate conduits IIS, H8, |28, |22, |24, |26, |28 and |30 are provided from the distributing head H0, each of which has provided therein a drip plug which is constructed to permit only the desired proportional part of the total supply of lubricant to be forced from the distributing head to the lubricated parts by the operation of the pump |08. As best shown in Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings, the conduits |I8 and |28 are arranged to supply'lubricant respectively to the table ways I 8 and I8, the amount of lubricant supplied being regulated by drip plugs |32 and |34 located respectively in the two conduits. The conduit H8 having therein a drip plug |36, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, terminates at a .point directly above the table reversing clutch member 48, so that lubricant is permitted to drip downwardly onto the clutch collar 'I4 and into the peripheral groove 'I8 in the clutch sleeve 48, and thence into a well formed by the recessed central portion of the bevel driving gear 42. From this point lubricant passes by gravity through ducts |38 formed The conduit |24 having a drip plug |48 associated therewith, is arranged to supply lubricant to` the threads of the nut 40 which, as previously ||0 through respective plugs |52 andl |54.

set forth, is rigidly supported on the saddle support for engagement with the table feed screw 38. This conduit is best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6 ofthe drawings.

With the present construction, provision is' made alsofor automatic lubrication of the bearings for the table drive shaft 36 and table screw 38 which are mounted on the work supporting table. The connections for lubricating these bearings comprise the two conduits |20 and |30 to which oil is supplied from the distributing head 'I'he conduit |20, as best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6,

takes the form of a tube which extends upwardly into a longitudinally extending slot or well formed in the under side of the table I2 to provide clearance for the tablescrew 38 and stationary nut 40, and terminates directly above a trough |56 secured to and extending along one of the upper corners of the well |55. The upwardly extending discharge end of the tube |20 is supported in a bracket.` |59 carried on the saddle support I5 (see Fig. 6). Oil collected in the trough |56, is drawn oi through a conduit |60 (see Fig. 2) which leads to the bearing 56 for the feed screw 38 located at the right hand end of the table, and thence'passes downward through a duct |6|. to the bearing 52 for the table drive shaft 36. The conduit |30 is similarly arranged to supply oil to a trough |62 mountedin and extending along the opposite upper corner of the well |58 in the table |2. As best shown in Fig. 6, the discharge end of the conduit |30 takes the form of a vertically extending tube which is supported in a bracket |63 on the saddle I5, and is provided at its upperend with an elbowed portion which terminates above the trough |62. Lubricant supplied to the trough |62 is distributed to two conduits |64 and |65 (see Fig. 8), the conduit |64 connecting with the end thrust bearings 58 and 60 for the table screw 38, and the conduit |65 connecting with the table screw bearing 54 at the left hand end of the table. From this point lubricant fiows downwardly through a duct |66 to the bearings 50 for the table drive shaft 36.

In accordance with the present invention, the pumping unit |06 previously referred to, is constructed and arranged. to force a measured amount of lubricant from the reservoir |00 through the pipe connection |08 to the distributing'head ||0 at intervals which are automatically determined by the operation of the machine, the lubricant thus supplied under pressure being then distributed to the several operating parts in proportionate amounts as determined by the resistance valves of the drip plugs previously described, to insure an adequate but not excessive lubrication through each individual branch line. The pumping unit |06, as best shown in Figs. 3 and '1, comprises a casing having formed therein a central bore |10 adapted to receive a piston |12 and an actuating plunger |14. At its free end the plunger |14 is provided with a conically-shaped surface |16 for engagement with a V-shaped slot |18 formed in the rotatable shaft 10 which supports the reversing lever 18. A compression spring coiled about the plunger |14 between a collar |82 secured to the plunger |14 and the abutting end of the pump casing |06, acts to force the plunger 14 and piston |12 to the right as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to maintain an operative engagement between the plunger and the reversing lever shaft 10. With this construction of the parts, it will readily be seen that the movement of the reversing lever 18 in either direction from its intermediate or neutral position, will cause the conical surface |16 to ride outwardly on the edges of the slot |18 to force the piston |12 to the left, and as the reversinglever 18 is returned to or passes through its intermediate position to cause the plunger to move again to the right under the pressure of the spring |80 to seat the conical portion |16 of the plunger in the bottom of the groove |18. As best shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, an inlet |84 is provided in the side of the chamber |10, and is connected through an inlet check valve |86 with the pipe connection |04 from the reservoir |00. Lubricant is forced from the chamber |10 by the operation of the pump through an outlet |88 and a check valve |90 to the CTI pipeconnection |08 leading to the distributing head l0. During the retracting movement of the piston 12 to the right, lubricant is drawn into the chamber |10 from the supply through check valve |86, the outlet |88 being at this time shut off through the operationof the check valve |90. On the return stroke of the piston |12 to the left, the check valve |86 closes, and the check valve |90 opens causing lubricant to be forced from the chamber |10 through the pipe line |00 to the distributing head I0.

,It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown,l and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a milling machine having a relatively stationary support, a movable support mounted for reciprocable movement thereon, and motion transmitting means for the movable support including a reverser and a reversing lever therefor shiftable to determine the direction of support movement, a lubricating device which comprises means for supplying lubricant under pressure including a distributing system through which lubricant is directed to said transmission means, and operating means actuable upon each shift of the reversing lever for causing a limited quantity of lubricant to be forced from the supply into the distributing system.

2. In a milling machine having a work supporting assembly including relatively movable table, saddle and knee supports, and motion transmitting means for said assembly having a plurality of associated moving parts including a table reverser mounted on the saddle, and a table reversing lever therefor shiftable to determine the direction of table movement, a lubricating device which comprises means for supplying lubricant under pressure to said parts including the reverser in the saddle, and operating means actuable upon each shift of the reversing lever for causing a limited quantity of lubricant to be forced from the supply to said parts.

3. In a milling machine having a relatively stationary support, a movable support mounted for reciprocatory movement thereon, and motion transmitting means for the movable Asupport having a plurality of associated moving parts, including a reverser and a reversing lever therefor, a lubricating device which comprises a source of lubricant supply, conduits through which lubricant is directed from the supply to lubricate said moving parts, a pump for forcing lubricant from the supply through said conduits, and means operative with each reversal of the reversing lever for actuating the pump to force a predetermined amount of lubricant through said conduits.

4. In a milling machine having a longitudinally reciprocable work table, a relatively stationary support for the work table, transmission means for the work table including-driving and reversing connections and bearing supports therefor, a reversing lever on the stationary support having intermediate neutral and alternate driving positions, a lubricating device which comprises a source of lubricant supply, conduits through which lubricant is directed from the supply to ylubricate the transmission, a pump for forcing lubricant through said conduits, and a connection operative upon movement of the lever in either direction from neutral position to actuate the pump. 1

5. In a milling `machine 'having a longitudinally reciprocable work table, a relatively stationary support for the work table, transmission means for the work table including driving and reversing connections and bearing supports therefor, a reversing lever onv the stationary support having intermediate neutral and alternate driving positions, a lubricating device which comprises a reservoir on said relatively stationary support, conduits through which lubricant is directed from the reservoir to lubricate the transmission, a pump having alternative draw and discharge strokes, and an actuating connection between the pump and lever whereby movement of the lever in either direction from neutral position operates to discharge lubricant through the conduits and the return movement of the lever to neutral position operates. to draw lubricant from the reservoir. l

6. In a milling machine having a longitudinally reciprocable work table, a relatively stationary support for the work table, and a table transmission having a plurality of associated moving parts including a reversing clutch, and bearing supports for said parts on the stationary support, a reversing lever on the stationary support for shifting the clutch, and a rotatable feed screw and bearing supports for the same on the table, a lubricating device which comprises a reservoir on the stationary support, conduits through which lubricant is directed from the reservoir to lubricate said bearings on the stationary and movable support, a pump for forcing lubricant from Athe supply through said con- I duits, and a connection from the reversing lever for actuating the pump to force a limited quantity of lubricant into said conduits with each rected from the reservoir to the distributing Ihead, branch conduits, and regulating means associated therewith for distributing proportional amounts of lubricant to different parts of said transmission, an additional branch conduit having regulating means therein for returning excess lubricant to the reservoir, a pump connected in said conduit between the reservoir and the distributinghead, and a connection from the'reversing lever for actuating the pump.

8. lIn a milling machine having a longitudinally reciprocable work table, a relatively stationary support for the work table, and table transmission means including a stationary nut, a rotatable feed screw and bearings for the feed screw on the table, said table having formed'in the under side thereof a longitudinally extending well within which the' feed screw and nut are mounted,v a lubricating device which comprises a reservoir on the stationary support, a lubricant A trough supported by the table within said well,

a conduit therefrom through which lubricant is supplied to one of said feed screw bearings, a

' conduit on the stationary support through which lubricant is directed from the reservoir into said trough, a pump connected to force lubricant from the reservoir into said latter conduit, and means operative during machine operation for intermittently actuating the pump.

9. In a milling machine having a longitudinally reciprocable work table, a relatively stationary support for the work table, and transmission means for the table including a plurality of driving yand reversing connections and bearing supports therefor on the stationary support, a rotatable feed screw and bearing supports therefor on the under side of the table, and a table reversing lever mounted on the stationary support, a lubricating device which comprises a reservoir on the stationary support, a distributing head on the stationary support, a lubricant pump, and actuating connections from the rcversing lever whereby movement of the reversing lever to either position will actuate the pump to force a predetermined amount of lubricant into the distributing head, branch conduits and regulating means therein through which lubricant is directed to lubricate said transmission means, a trough on the table extending longtiudinally in the direction of table movement and a conduit therefrom for lubricating one of said feedscrew bearings, and a branch conduit on said relatively stationary support and regulating means therein for supplying lubricant from the distributing head to the trough.

10. In a milling machine having a longitudinally reciprocable work table, a transversely movable saddle support for the work table, table transmission means including a nut fixed to the saddle support, a rotatable feed screw and4 bearings for the feed screw on the table, said table l having formed on the under side thereof a longitudinally extending well within which the feed screw and nut are mounted, a table reversing lever mounted on the saddle. a lubricating device which comprises a reservoir on the saddle support, a pairof lubricant troughs supported by the table Within said well, conduits from said troughs whereby lubricant is supplied by gravity respectively to the feed screw bearings, a pair of supply conduits onv the stationary support throughl which lubricant is directed from the reservoir into each of said troughs, a pump connected to force lubricant from the reservoir into the supply conduits, and means for intermittently actuating the pump during machine operation.

11. In a milling machine having a longitudinally reciprocable work table, a transversely movable saddle support therefor, and table transmission means including a plurality of moving parts and a table feed reversing lever on the saddle, a lubricating device which comprises a reservoir in the Saddle, a distributing head and connections therefrom for distributing lubricant to said moving parts, a pump connected between the'reservoir and distributing head, and means operative with each reversal of the reversing 1ever for actuating the pump to force a. limited quantity oi' lubricant into the distributing head.

12. In a milling machine having a longitudinally reciprocable work table, a transversely movable saddle support for the work table, and table transmission means including a rotatable feed screw and bearings for the feed screw on the table, and a table reversing lever mounted on the saddle support, a lubricating device which ccmprises a reservoir on the saddle support, a distributing head on the saddle support, a connection therefrom for directing lubricant from the distributing head to said bearing on the table, a pump connected between the reservoir and distributing head, and a connection from the reversing lever for actuating the pump to force a limited quantityof lubricant into the distributing head with each reversal ci' the reversing lever.

13. In a milling machine having a, longitudinally reciprocable work table, a tranversely movable saddle support for the Work table, and table transmission means 4having a plurality of associated moving parts including a reversing clutch and a driving nut supported within the stationary support, a reversing lever on the stationary support associated with the clutch, a ieed screw and bearing supports for the same on the table, a lubricating device which comprises a reservoir on the stationary support, a pump. and conduits for distributing lubricant to said parts including the reversing clutch, driving nut and feed screw bearings, and a connection from the reversing lever for actuating lthe pump to force a limited quantity of lubricant into said conduits with each reversal of the lever.

ARTHUR F. BENNETT. 

